Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
SEESAC. 2019 ‘Firearm Export Numbers in Albania (2012-2016).’ SEESAC Albania - 2012/2016 SALW Survey, p. 33. Belgrade: South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC). 18 December
Relevant contents
Albania's Military Export Import Company (MEICO) was the only SALW [small arms and light weapons] exporting company between 2012 and 2016.
MEICO is a state-owned company run by the Ministry of Defense, which was created in 1991 to meet the needs of Albania's Armed Forces. MEICO's exports of ML1 category items fluctuated with 31,153 ML1 items exported in 2012, and 6,902 ML1 items exported by 2016. There were no exports of ML2 category from 2012 to 2013; however, exports picked up the following three years with 202, 299 and 210 ML2 items exported in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. As with ML3 imports, there was a significant increase in ML3 exports, which was the result of several export contracts being postponed in 2013 as well as changes in government and administration, which led to a spike in exports in 2014. In addition, the 2014 law regulating civilian possession increased the request for ML3 category units from 2014 onwards. It is interesting to note that arms export licensing data for EU countries over the past ten years show that far fewer export licenses are processed for ML2 category weapons compared to ML1 and ML3, which was also the case for Albania between 2012 and 2016.
Table 13: Weapons and ammunition exports by quantity and type, 2012-2016
Type: 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016
ML1 31,153 - 160 - 13,497 - 300 - 6,902
ML2 0 - 0 - 202 - 299 - 210
ML3 19,694 - 0 - 88,186,180 - 53,319,541 - 11,905,347
No ML1 and ML2 category weapons were transited through Albania between 2012 and 2016; however, 78,050 ML3 items were transited in 2016. There were no transshipments of weapons or ammunition during the five-year period.
Notes:
- ML1 are defined as smooth-bore weapons with a caliber of less than 20 mm, other arms and automatic weapons with a caliber of 12.7 mm (caliber 0.50 inches) or less and accessories, and specially designed components. This definition and subsequent definitions for ML2 and ML3 weapons are based on the military list categories as adopted by the EU Council on 14 March 2016 (CFSP 2016/C 122/01).
- ML2 are defined as smooth-bore weapons with a caliber of 20 mm or more, other weapons or armament with a greater than 12.7 mm (caliber 0.50 inches), projectors and accessories, and specially designed components.
- ML3 are defined as ammunition and fuse setting devices, and specially designed components.